Topeka liquor store owner Patricia Drake plans to attentively follow the flow of legislative debate on overhaul of Kansas law on sale of beer, wine and liquor.

In one corner, Drake will stand with proprietors of hundreds of independent retail stores licensed to dispense spirits.

The challenger in the ring, the Uncork Kansas coalition of grocery stores, convenience stores and chambers of commerce, is poised to flex enough muscle to broaden businesses allowed to sell the full range of alcoholic beverages. Currently, general stores are limited to offering cereal-malt beer or wine coolers.

Drake, owner of Topeka Club Liquor at S.W. 14th and Wanamaker, senses the 2013 Legislature's debate on the topic could have David-and-Goliath overtones.

"We've got a fight on our hands," she said.

The Kansas Chamber, the most powerful lobbying organization in the state, will be part of the coalition pressing the Republican-led House and Senate and GOP Gov. Sam Brownback to enact a more "free enterprise" approach to alcohol sales.

Kent Eckles, vice president of the Kansas Chamber, said existing law served to protect an "illegal monopoly."

"It reinforces the notion the Kansas Chamber is not in it for small business," said Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka.

In the 2013 session, which begins next Monday, the politics of business will be on display in other forms.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, said there would be renewal of Republican attempts to block withdrawal from union worker paychecks contributions to political action committees.

In addition, he expects the governor's public education task force to advocate revision of collective bargaining rights held by public school teachers.

Infusion of dozens of new legislators in the House and Senate will mark debates at the Statehouse.

"If you want Kansas to grow, you've got to make Kansas the most tax-friendly state in the area," said Rep.-elect Ken Corbet, R-Topeka.

Brownback, during his State of the State address next Tuesday night, will delve into tax policy while outlining his strategy for extracting Kansas government from a $295 million deficit in the fiscal year starting July 1.

The shortfall is the difference between anticipated revenue and current expenditure obligations for state government, and is a consequence of action by Brownback and the 2012 Legislature to decrease individual income tax rates in 2013 and exempt owners of 190,000 businesses from income taxes. Changes in the law are expected to cost the state billions of dollars in revenue during the next six years.

The governor could, once again, call for extension of a 1-cent increase in the statewide sales tax adopted in 2010 by moderate Republicans and Democrats as a three-year fix for a previous budget woe.

Scheduled to drop 0.6 percent to 5.7 percent June 30, retention of the current 6.3 percent Kansas sales tax would generate at least $250 million annually for the state. The revenue could be applied to a deficit or to buy down income tax rates. The governor also might renew an appeal for revenue through elimination of tax breaks, including deductions for charitable contributions and mortgage interest.

"We'll lay that out in the budget," Brownback said. "That's also why I want to do a two-year budget. I want to show here's how we deal with this."

There will be an effort among Republicans to frame a tax package that can’t be characterized as an increase for Kansans. It will be difficult to convince lawmakers who voted for a temporary sales tax increase to flip-flop and endorse a freeze.

"We made a commitment to the people. We need to follow through on that promise," said Rep. Annie Tietze, D-Topeka.

Legislation will be introduced to correct an error in the 2012 tax reform bill obligating many business owners to higher taxes when repaying themselves for investments made in their businesses. The mistake mandates owners pay capital gains tax on repayments drawn from company profits.

Eckles said the Kansas Chamber would endorse legislation to keep local units of government from quietly securing property tax hikes simply through escalation of property valuations. There will be a bill introduced to generate sales tax revenue from out-of-state retailers selling products to consumers in Kansas, he said.

"We still want to march to zero on income taxes," Eckles said.

The business organization also will seek reform of standards for expert evidence in court and company payments into the unemployment trust fund. It will stand in opposition to state law creating fresh obstacles for immigrant laborers.